Winter weather driving tips

Winter weather can cause major problems on Georgia roads.

Author:
11alive Staff

Published:
12:00 PM EST December 7, 2017

Updated:
6:09 AM EST December 9, 2018

Winter weather can cause major problems on Georgia roads. While it's best not to be on the road at all during winter weather conditions, if you absolutely have be driving, here are some tips to follow to stay safe.

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If possible, postpone travel until daylight hours when road conditions such as black ice are more visible;

Call 511 to report icy conditions on interstates and state routes

Slow down to at least half your normal speed. Also make sure to switch down to a low gear as you drive.

Treat broken traffic lights as four-way stops. Don't forget to exercise extra caution because your fellow drivers may not know that the stoplight should be handled this way.

Beware of black ice! This road condition isn't some kind of folk tale, but is actually one of the most dangerous elements of winter driving weather.

Accuweather has 3 safety tips for driving on black ice:

1) Don't hit the brakes, but keep your steering wheel steady.

2) Take your foot off the gas.

3) Don't try to overcorrect your steering if you begin to slide.

Look out for fallen trees or power lines. These hazards can appear anywhere on the roadway, so exercise total caution when driving.

Winter weather hacks

Putting hand sanitizer on your keys can help you get through an icy lock.&nbsp;

If your ice scraper and good old fashioned muscle isn't enough, mix together 2 parts vinegar and one part water and spray the solution on your windows and watch the ice melt away!

Pop up&nbsp;your windshield wipers before the snow and ice hits. Pro-tip: Cover them with old socks to keep them nice and dry and ice-free.

Parking your car with your windshield facing east will allow the sun to do some of the work and melt away snow and ice from your windshield.&nbsp;

Filling a sock with kitty litter and placing it on your dashboard will help keep windows from fogging up. So will applying a very thin layer of shaving cream to the inside of the windshield.&nbsp;

Make sure your ceiling fans are running clockwise to push warm air back to floor level, keeping your house just a bit warmer.

Letting your faucets drip will help keep the pipes in your home from freezing. So will opening up any cabinet doors where pipes are present, as it will allow warmer air in the home to circulate around the pipes.

Avoid this frozen scenario by sliding a Ziploc bag over your side mirrors before the storm moves through. Secure with rubber bands or clothespins.&nbsp;

Run out of snow or icemelt? Make your own at home with stuff you probably have on hand: mix together one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a half gallon of hot water. Pour it over your sidewalks and stairways.

Another winter weather hack for kitty litter! Keeping a box in your trunk gives your car added weight and helps with traction. It's also great to pour around your tires to help get your car rolling. No kitty litter? Car mats work for traction, too.

An easy way to weatherproof your house: cut bubble wrap to size of your window, spray a small amount of water onto the windows and apply the bubble wrap. Poof!&nbsp;

If you must do some shoveling, here's a tip for you: Spray non-stick cooking spray onto your shovel and all the snow and ice will slide right off.&nbsp;

If your house is heated via radiator, slide a piece of aluminum foil between the unit and the wall to reflect the heat back into the room. Works for space heaters, too.

Spraying locks with WD-40 ahead of a storm can keep them from becoming frozen. (Credit: WD-40)

01/15

Putting hand sanitizer on your keys can help you get through an icy lock.&nbsp;

02/15

If your ice scraper and good old fashioned muscle isn't enough, mix together 2 parts vinegar and one part water and spray the solution on your windows and watch the ice melt away!

03/15

Pop up&nbsp;your windshield wipers before the snow and ice hits. Pro-tip: Cover them with old socks to keep them nice and dry and ice-free.

04/15

Parking your car with your windshield facing east will allow the sun to do some of the work and melt away snow and ice from your windshield.&nbsp;

05/15

Filling a sock with kitty litter and placing it on your dashboard will help keep windows from fogging up. So will applying a very thin layer of shaving cream to the inside of the windshield.&nbsp;

06/15

Make sure your ceiling fans are running clockwise to push warm air back to floor level, keeping your house just a bit warmer.

07/15

Letting your faucets drip will help keep the pipes in your home from freezing. So will opening up any cabinet doors where pipes are present, as it will allow warmer air in the home to circulate around the pipes.

08/15

Avoid this frozen scenario by sliding a Ziploc bag over your side mirrors before the storm moves through. Secure with rubber bands or clothespins.&nbsp;

Run out of snow or icemelt? Make your own at home with stuff you probably have on hand: mix together one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a half gallon of hot water. Pour it over your sidewalks and stairways.

11/15

Another winter weather hack for kitty litter! Keeping a box in your trunk gives your car added weight and helps with traction. It's also great to pour around your tires to help get your car rolling. No kitty litter? Car mats work for traction, too.

12/15

An easy way to weatherproof your house: cut bubble wrap to size of your window, spray a small amount of water onto the windows and apply the bubble wrap. Poof!&nbsp;

13/15

If you must do some shoveling, here's a tip for you: Spray non-stick cooking spray onto your shovel and all the snow and ice will slide right off.&nbsp;

14/15

If your house is heated via radiator, slide a piece of aluminum foil between the unit and the wall to reflect the heat back into the room. Works for space heaters, too.

15/15

Spraying locks with WD-40 ahead of a storm can keep them from becoming frozen. (Credit: WD-40)